Dreams do come true…
On a borrowed bike I spent a few weeks in Flanders – a haven of cycling religion…
A proud, fit, athletically built Belgian guy, with a big generous heart, kindly borrowed me his “dorpfiets” for three weeks. On this bicycle I had my first ride on European soil.
And on this bicycle I spent my days traversing the lovely cycling roads of West Flanders, discovered the “knooppunten”, experienced the magic of the bicycle paths in traffic, and took day trips to all the nearby towns… to visit museums, coffee shops, koerskafees, friends…. or to just BE THERE for a minute, and then ride back again.
Yes – on Luc’s solidly, Belgian built Venturelli I sweated in the spring afternoon sunshine, and shivered on cold nights and mornings.
On this bike I sometimes felt utterly tired, but often felt ready to take on any road. And as the mind travels while pedaling, there were some moments of sadness, but a multitude of times of extreme happiness.
There were hours of long-roaded loneliness, and times of feeling completely immersed and connected to the Flemish landscapes and its people. There were periods of drawn out open roads alongside farm landscapes, and times of navigating busy streets and heavy traffic.
My thoughts wandered back to the place I was riding from, and wondered about the place I was pedaling to…
I rode about 250km (not much by some’s standard, I know) on this black bike with its wrist activated gearing system and its built-in wheel-lock. Except for a slow puncture which got fixed quickly, there was never a squeak or a problem: this machine just worked. Its braking system performed well and rescued me in those moments when I had to correct my own stupidity! And it felt comfortable and easy to ride from the get-go: I merely mounted my navigation gadgets and off I went. A real work-horse… the quality of the bike build and the components is remarkable.
I will nurture special memories of solo roaming the roads and fields of Flanders on Luc’s bike… a journey much deeper and meaningful than the distance I have put onto its tyres.
“The bicycle’s is the only chain that sets you free.”
Thank you, Luc. For the freedom.
